THE REFERENCE SHELF
Label notes
Read a lip color ingredient list without guessing its performance
Use the ingredient panel to identify the formulation and substances you need to avoid, not to predict an entire product from one highlighted ingredient. Check the package for the selected shade and market.
Tinted lipstick and lip SPF are separate label questions
Ordinary lipstick color is not evidence of sun protection. If you want a lip product with SPF, look for sunscreen labeling and follow the drug directions on that exact product.
What hypoallergenic does—and does not—tell you about lipstick
Hypoallergenic is not a guarantee that a lipstick will suit you. FDA says there is no federal standard or definition governing that term; check your own known sensitivities and the current ingredient panel.
Track an opening date without inventing a universal lipstick expiry
Write down when you open the product and use the manufacturer’s own interval or expiry information when provided. There is no single FDA-mandated shelf life for every cosmetic lipstick.